As the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) continues its consultations with coalition partners to secure support for the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met a delegation from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P) led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.According to the report, the meeting focused on discussions regarding the draft of the amendment and MQM-P’s possible inclusion in the initiative. 

During the meeting, the MQM-P delegation presented its own proposals and reservations concerning the amendment, outlining conditions under which it might extend its support. Prime minister had decided to hand over a draft of the amendment to the MQM-P and take the party into confidence before moving the bill in parliament. Following internal consultations, the MQM-P is expected to announce whether it will support or oppose the proposed changes. 

Separately, a delegation of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) led by Aleem Khan also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister's House.  In the meeting, the PM Shehbaz Sharif took the IPP leadership into confidence regarding the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The prime minister had also met with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on November 3 to seek his party’s backing for the same amendment. 

According to Bilawal’s post on X, a PML-N delegation led by PM Shehbaz had called on President Asif Ali Zardari and him to request the PPP’s cooperation in passing the amendment. Bilawal stated that the federal government’s proposed 27th Amendment contains a number of significant constitutional reforms. He said these amendments include the creation of a constitutional court, the restoration of executive magistrates, provisions concerning the transfer of judges, and amendments to Article 243 relating to the armed forces. 

He added that the draft also proposes removing provincial share protections in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, transferring education and population planning powers back to the federal government, and introducing measures to resolve deadlocks in appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan. The government’s outreach to coalition allies indicates that it intends to move forward with wide-ranging constitutional adjustments that could reshape the balance of power between the federation and the provinces.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)